A Michael Hourigan-trained winner at Limerick is nothing new and the trainer registered his 32nd winner at his local new track when Arteea landed the Pricewaterhousecoopers Maiden Hurdle.
The absence of the likely favourite, The Fingersmith (nasal discharge), left Michael Hourigan's surprise market drifter Arteea (1/2 - evens) to run out an effortless twenty length winner from Rights Of Man.
Arteea, a son of Oscar, jumped to the front at the second last, eventually easing to an impressive twenty length win under the stylish Bobbie McNally.
Hourigan later mentioned 'Arteea couldn't have done that any easier and we'll aim him at a winners' of one race at Leopardstown on Pierce Hurdle day next.'
The feature race, the five runner Listed Guinness Greenmount Park Novice Chase went to David Wachman's winner Cane Break, one of only two horses to complete a clear round.
Mark Grant's mount will now be aimed at a three mile Grade 2 novice chase at Naas on January 22, according to Wachman.
Eventual third, Another Dollar, fell when tiring at the second last but was remounted to collect E5,000 third place prize money and valuable blacktype.
Tom Taaffe trained Emotional Article to win the Tom Cross Hurdle, less than 40 minutes after Kicking King had landed the King George VI Chase at Kempton for the Straffan handler.
Heavy ground meant horses finished very tired throughout the day with Emotional Article having to make his own running eventually out-battling Guest Artist by three and a half lengths, the pair having battled from the second last.
A grief stricken beginners' chase went to Il De Boitron, a first winner for jockey Andrew McNamara since returning from injury recently.
